For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including the day prior to confirmation. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day prior to confirmation would merit a minimum rating of 130.
The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. Weights 11st 7lb Allowances mares 7lb

Race Date : 25th November 2017

Bristol De Mai is very talented horse. He ran a great race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season finishing seventh as a six-year-old. This horse likes soft ground so any rain up to the race day will only be of help to him. Last time out he was a good winner of the Charlie Hall Chase where he ran well throughout and beat his stablemate Blaklion and the two were a long way in front of the rst of the field. A worthy favourite.

One of the publics favourites is the Colin Tizard trained Cue Card. Now 11, rising 12, this multiple Grade 1 winner has twice been unlucky in the blue-ribbon event, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He fell in the Charlie Hall which was won by Bristol De Mai but the low sun was blamed for that and not really a jumping error. He has a new jockey today and should go really well in a race he has won for the last two years and three times overall.

Shantou Flyer is a horse who changed stables last season and instantly had some improved form. He ran well in the Betfair Ascot Chase where he was a long way second behind Cue Card, who was extremely impressive that day. He struggled a bit in the Grand National and was pulled up and the National is likely to be his target again this year. He was 5th in the Charlie hall a long way behind the winner. Improvement needed here.

10th in last seasons gold cup Outlander is a really good horse. He is a multiple Grade 1 winner. He is a past winner of the Lexus chase and most recently he won the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal a few weeks ago. Will be fit and ready to take his chance here today.

Unseated early on in the Cheltenham Gold cup Tea for Two went on to score a great Grade 1 win at Aintree a few weeks later beating Cue Card. His first run this season was nothing more than OK over a distance too short, the good news this will have put him spot on for this race.

Traffic Fluide from Gary Moore looks like he could improve for being upper in distance. He has been running well over two and a half miles. He like soft ground and has won on heavy. Strictly on ratings he has to improve a lot but I would not be surprised if he runs much better than his odds.

Number

Form / Type

Name

Age

Weight

Trainer

Kockey

Official Rating

1

21305-1 / C / GELDING

Bristol de Mai (FR)

6

11st 7lbs

Nigel Twiston-Davies

Daryl Jacob

160

2

121F2-F / C / GELDING

Cue Card (GB) T

11

11st 7lbs

Colin Tizzard

Harry Cobden

168

3

210P-61 / GELDING

Outlander (IRE) p

9

11st 7lbs

Gordon Elliott

Jack Kennedy

166

4

0142P-5 / GELDING

Shantou Flyer (IRE) T

7

11st 7lbs

Richard Hobson

Adam Wedge

154

5

241U1-0 / GELDING

Tea For Two (GB)

8

11st 7lbs

Nick Williams

Lizzie Kelly

164

6

46632-4 / GELDING

Traffic Fluide (FR) p

7

11st 7lbs

Gary Moore

Joshua Moore

153

Position

Form Type

Name

Age

Weight

Tainer

Jockey

Rating

1

21305-1/ C / GELDING

Bristol de Mai (FR)

6

11st 7lbs

Nigel Twiston-Davies

Daryl Jacob

160

2

121F2-F/ C / GELDING

Cue Card (GB)

11

11st 7lbs

Colin Tizzard

Harry Cobden

168

3

210P-61 / GELDING

Outlander (IRE)

9

11st 7lbs

Gordon Elliott

Jack Kennedy

166

4

241U1-0 / GELDING

Tea For Two (GB)

8

11st 7lbs

Nick Williams

Lizzie Kelly

164

5

46632-4 / GELDING

Traffic Fluide (FR)

7

11st 7lbs

Gary Moore

Joshua Moore

153

P/U

0142P-5 / GELDING

Shantou Flyer (IRE)

7

11st 7lbs

Richard Hobson

Adam Wedge

154

N/R

321111- / GELDING

Sizing John (GB)

7

11st 7lbs

Mrs J. Harrington

Robbie Power

169

Well, today we had another of those winter ground races run with the going heavy.

The winner Bristol De Mai was a very smart winner today on ground that he loves and also a track that he is still unbeaten on. This was a very good win from the youngest horse in the field and despite getting everything in his favour today the winning margin of 57 lengths tells you how easy this was for him today. He never looked in any trouble despite not being very fluent at the second last but by then he was racing on his own. A very good wide margin win that has seen his rating climb 13 lbs to 173. The King George on Boxing day has got a whole lot more exciting!

Cue Card was second in the race and was going well enough until mid-race when he was pushed along for a while. With two falls in the previous three runs, he has the right to be a bit cautious at his fences today. Let's hope he gets more confidence for Boxing day.

The well supported Outlander from the Irish stable of Gorden Elliott was with the pack until the pace picked up but after a mistake at the 15th fence, he found himself struggling and finished 3rd 9 lengths behind the second.

Tea For Two ran really well. Made a mistake at the 4th fence but then rallied again but finished a tired 4th 1/2 length behind the 3rd.

Traffic Fluid was held up at the start and kept on but was never really in the race. Finished 5th 3/4 length behind the 4th horse.

Shantou Flyer was always in rear and struggling and was pulled up after 13 fences.

Stewards Report THE BETFAIR STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (Registered as The Lancashire Steeple Chase)
BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) wore earplugs throughout the race, and TEA FOR TWO wore earplugs which were removed at the start.